20 Mar 12 | Americas, Index Index, minipost
A Bolivian journalist has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison on charges of “defamation, libel and spreading insults”. Rogelio Peláez, editor of monthly publication Larga Vista, reported that a lawyer who was representing retired public servants had charged excessively high legal fees. Referring to lawyer Waldo Molina, the journalist used the phrase “un robo con la ley en la mano” roughly translated to mean “using the law to steal”, on the front page of Larga Vista. Peláez was sentenced on 8 March.
15 Aug 11 | Index Index, minipost
Bolivian president Evo Morales has announced a new Telecommunications, Information Technology and Communication Law that establishes new rules for the distribution of radio and television frequencies, the broadcasting of presidential messages, and authorises wiretapping in exceptional cases. Some critics say the law, which was approved at the end of July, will give the state de facto control over 67 percent of the radio and television frequencies due to the Morales administration’s close ties to indigenous and community groups. Meanwhile, journalism organisations have denounced the law, saying it undermines freedom of expression and that wiretapping will affect the public’s right to privacy.
08 Oct 10 | Index Index, minipost
Several Bolivian newspapers are protesting a proposed law which would allow the government to shut down any media outlets it deems guilty of racism. The protest is motivated by concerns that the law could be used to curtail political criticism or against newspapers which publish the discriminatory opinions of others. President Evo Morales has stated he will not modify this aspect of the bill which is intended to combat racism against the indigenous people of Bolivia. The bill has passed through the Chamber of Deputies but will not become law unless it is also passed by the Senate.
23 Oct 09 | Index Index, minipost, News and features
On 19 October, more than a hundred cooperative miners attacked the headquarters of La Razón, a newspaper based in the Bolivian administrative capital La Paz.
The attack took place during a protest march over the ownership of a site in the Murillo province of the La Paz department. According to local media, the demonstrators exploded dynamite cartridges outside the offices of the newspaper. Nobody was injured in the attack.
“Next time it could be worse, so a clear message must be sent that violence against the media will not be tolerated”, said Alison Bethel McKenzie, Deputy Director of the International Press Institute (IPI), in a statement condemning the attacks. (La Razón)
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